Why Not was bred by Sir John
Phillips (1701-1764), 6th bt, of Picton Castle, in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. He was
purchased by Richard Onslow (1715-1776), 3rd Baron Onslow, of Clandon
House, Surrey, at the end of the 1750 racing season. Lord Onslow also owned the racehorses Cato (b c 1748
Regulus)
and Victorious (bl c 1747
Whitenose).

Why Not had little success in the stud
and died in 1761 at Belsize, near Hampstead.

Pedigree

Why Not

Crab

Alcock's
Arabian

Sister to
Soreheels

Basto

Sister to Mixbury

Sister to
Slipby

Fox

Clumsey

Bay
Peg

Gipsey

Bay
Bolton

Newcastle Turk Mare

Race Record

In 1749 he won £50 at Hounslow,
defeating Mr John Tuting's Fancy (gr f 1751 Old
Crab) and two others. Fancy was a full sister to
Shepherd's
Crab (ch c 1747).

In 1750 he began the year by
winning £50 purses at both Epsom and Stamford. At Burford he won
another £50 beating Lord Craven's Cartouch (ch c Young Cartouch) and
two others. He went on to win another £50 at Chesterfield, whereupon he
was bought by Lord Onslow.

In 1751 he lost a race worth 50
sovereigns to Little Driver (ch c 1743
Beaver's Driver), each carrying 10 stone in four-mile heats. At
Guildford he won £50, defeating two others, all carrying 11 stone in
four-mile heats. He later won £50 purses at Maidenhead, Leicester and
Northampton.

In May of 1752 he lost a race at
Guildford to Mr Rogers's Garland (gr c
Bolton Starling), each carrying
12 stone in four-mile heats. Later he beat Garland at Hounslow and
Aylesbury, collecting £50 at both places. Why Not then lost £50 at
Burford to his nemesis Garland, who won both four-mile heats, each
carrying 10 stone.

In May of 1753 he lost again to
Garland in running for a purse of 50 sovereigns, each carrying 10 stone
in four-mile heats. At Guildford he was beaten for a purse of 50 sovereigns
by Mr Rogers's Aaron (b c Whitenose), whose
rivalry with Little Driver attained much
fame. Both Why Not and Aaron carried 10 stone in four-mile heats. This
was Why Not's final race.